Ground Zero (A short documentary about the China funded Kaliwa Dam project)

Summary

Amy Astoveza, a Remontado Indigenous woman, shares her community's deep connection to the Sierra Madre mountains and the Agos River. They rely on the river for water, fishing, and farming, which are central to their traditions and livelihoods. The proposed Kaliwa Dam threatens their way of life, potentially submerging their lands and disrupting their access to water and ancestral burial grounds. The community fears losing their cultural practices and faces intimidation and accusations of being leftists for opposing the dam. They yearn to maintain their freedom and continue their traditional lifestyle without external interference.

Takeaways

• 🏞️ The indigenous community of Sierra Madre relies heavily on the river for their livelihood, including drinking water, farming, and fishing.
• 🚫 The community strongly opposes the Kaliwa Dam project, fearing it will disrupt their water sources and threaten their traditions and culture.
• 🌾 Traditional farming practices like collective planting (pasik) and crop cultivation are integral to their way of life.
• 🐟 Fishing is a significant activity, providing food and a sense of community through sharing catches.
• 👶 Traditional birthing practices are still observed due to financial constraints, despite the lack of formal medical licenses.
• 💧 The community actively maintains the cleanliness and potability of their water sources, which are crucial for daily needs.
• 🚫 The construction of the dam is seen as a threat to their access to water, potentially leading to restrictions or prohibitions in the future.
• 🏞️ The dam project could lead to the submersion of their lands, affecting not only the indigenous community but also downstream areas.
• 🏡 The community is concerned about the loss of their ancestral burial grounds and the erosion of their cultural heritage.
• 🛣️ There are reports of forced displacement and accusations of political affiliations, which intimidate community members and suppress their opposition to the dam.
• 🏡 The promise of housing units is met with skepticism, as it threatens their primary livelihood of planting and the community's autonomy.

Q & A

What is the significance of the river to the Indigenous Peoples of Sierra Madre?

The river is crucial for the Indigenous Peoples of Sierra Madre as it serves as their primary source of water for drinking and washing. It also provides a means of livelihood through fishing, which is an integral part of their culture and daily sustenance.

Why do the Indigenous Peoples reject the Kaliwa Dam project?

They reject the Kaliwa Dam because they believe it will lead to the disappearance of their traditions and cultures, as well as disrupt their access to water sources, potentially submerging their communities and affecting their way of life.

What is Amy Astoveza's cultural background?

Amy Astoveza identifies as a Remontado, which means she is of mixed heritage, being half Tagalog and half Indigenous.

What are some of the crops planted by the community in Sierra Madre?

The community in Sierra Madre plants crops such as cassava, sweet potatoes, and bananas.

How does the community engage in farming practices?

The community practices collective farming, where they participate in activities like 'pasik' or community rice planting, where members join in throwing seeds after slash and burn techniques.

What types of fish can be found in the Agos River according to the transcript?

The Agos River is home to various types of fish, including carp, large tilapia, bakyu, mamuntok, balitag, and shrimp.

How does the community utilize the fish they catch from the river?

The community uses the fish as a food source, especially when they have nothing else to eat with rice. They do not sell the fish but instead share it with their neighbors, reflecting their tradition of not being selfish.

What is the community's concern regarding the construction of the Kaliwa Dam?

The community is concerned that the construction of the Kaliwa Dam will lead to the loss of their water sources, affect their access to the Agos River, and potentially submerge their communities, causing displacement and the loss of their traditional way of life.

How does the community maintain the cleanliness and potability of their water sources?

The community ensures the cleanliness and potability of their water sources by removing weeds from the streams when the water level is low, emphasizing the importance of maintaining water quality.

What impact does the dam project have on the community's access to their traditional practices and lands?

The dam project threatens the community's access to their traditional practices and lands by potentially restricting their movement and control over the lands, which are essential for their livelihood and cultural practices.

What are the community's concerns regarding the protection of their burial grounds?

The community is worried that the dam project might lead to the desecration of their ancestral burial grounds, which are located near the river banks and hold significant cultural and spiritual importance.

How does the presence of security forces affect the community's daily life?

The presence of security forces, including soldiers and checkpoints, restricts the community's freedom of movement and creates an atmosphere of fear, with residents being accused of affiliations with the New People's Army (NPA) and facing strict identification checks.

Outlines

00:00

🌄 Life in Sierra Madre and the Impact of Kaliwa Dam

Amy Astoveza, a Remontado Indigenous woman, describes her life in the Sierra Madre mountains, emphasizing the importance of the Agos River for drinking, farming, and fishing. She explains traditional practices such as collective farming and sharing of resources within the community. The Kaliwa Dam project is strongly opposed due to its potential to disrupt these traditions and the environment, threatening the livelihoods and cultural practices of Indigenous Peoples.

05:06

💧 Water Conservation and the Threat of Displacement

The community's efforts to maintain the cleanliness and potability of their water sources are highlighted, as well as their concerns about the potential loss of these sources due to the Kaliwa Dam project. The dam poses a risk of submerging the downstream community of Sitio Mabulas, leading to the displacement and potential death of friends and family. The project could also restrict access to the Agos River, affecting traditional practices and the community's way of life. The narrative also touches on the loss of ancestral burial grounds and the community's fear of being labeled as leftists, which silences their opposition to the dam.

10:16

🏞️ The Fight for Sierra Madre's Future

Despite the onset of construction for the Kaliwa Dam, the community remains steadfast in their opposition. They express a desire to preserve the natural beauty and freedom of Sierra Madre, fearing that the dam will lead to the mountains' disappearance and their lives being confined. The community seeks to continue their traditional way of life without external disturbances and the threat of being treated as prisoners in their own land.

Keywords

💡Sierra Madre

Sierra Madre is a mountain range in the Philippines, known for its rich biodiversity and indigenous communities. In the video, it represents the ancestral home of the Remontado people, where they have lived freely for generations. The mountain range is central to the video's theme as it is threatened by the proposed Kaliwa Dam project, which could lead to the displacement of indigenous communities and the destruction of their traditional way of life.

💡Kaliwa Dam

The Kaliwa Dam is a proposed dam project mentioned in the video, which is a source of contention for the indigenous communities living in the Sierra Madre. The dam's construction could lead to the drying up of rivers, submerging of lands, and the loss of traditional livelihoods. The video emphasizes the community's firm rejection of the dam due to its potential to disrupt their culture and environment.

💡Indigenous Peoples

Indigenous Peoples, as discussed in the video, refers to the native ethnic groups that have a historical connection to a particular territory, often with distinct customs, languages, and traditions. The Remontado people, who are half Tagalog and half Indigenous, are highlighted as an example. Their way of life, which includes collective farming and fishing, is deeply intertwined with the natural environment of Sierra Madre, making them particularly vulnerable to the impacts of the Kaliwa Dam.

💡Collective Farming

Collective farming is a traditional practice where community members work together to cultivate crops. In the video, it is mentioned as a way of life for the Remontado people, where they plant crops like cassava, sweet potatoes, and bananas. This practice is not only about agriculture but also about community bonding and shared responsibility, which is threatened by the potential environmental changes brought by the Kaliwa Dam.

💡Agos River

The Agos River is a significant water source for the indigenous communities in the video, serving as a marketplace for fish and a provider of drinking water. The river is central to their daily lives, and the video expresses concern that the construction of the Kaliwa Dam could lead to the river's drying up, affecting the community's access to water and their traditional fishing practices.

💡Cultural Disappearance

Cultural disappearance refers to the loss of traditional customs, practices, and ways of life that occur when a community is displaced or its environment is altered. In the video, the fear of cultural disappearance is a recurring theme, as the construction of the Kaliwa Dam could lead to the submersion of ancestral lands, the loss of traditional livelihoods, and the disruption of community life, ultimately erasing the unique cultural identity of the indigenous people.

💡Burial Grounds

Burial grounds are places where the deceased are interred and are often of great cultural and spiritual significance to indigenous communities. The video mentions the importance of protecting these sites, as they are the final resting place of ancestors and a link to the community's heritage. The construction of the Kaliwa Dam threatens to submerge these sacred sites, which would be a profound loss for the indigenous people.

💡Livelihood

Livelihood in the context of the video refers to the means of obtaining the necessities of life, particularly through traditional practices like farming and fishing. The Remontado people's livelihood is closely tied to the natural resources of Sierra Madre, and the video expresses concern that the Kaliwa Dam could disrupt their ability to farm and fish, leading to economic hardship and the loss of traditional ways of life.

💡New People’s Army (NPA)

The New People’s Army (NPA) is a political-military organization in the Philippines that is mentioned in the video as a factor contributing to the tension and fear within the community. The video describes how community members are accused of being NPA members, which leads to self-censorship and fear of expressing opposition to the Kaliwa Dam project, further complicating the community's struggle to protect their rights and way of life.

💡Environmental Displacement

Environmental displacement refers to the forced movement of people from their homes due to environmental changes, often caused by development projects like dams. The video highlights the potential for environmental displacement as a result of the Kaliwa Dam, which could lead to the submersion of communities, the loss of water sources, and the destruction of the natural environment that the indigenous people depend on for their survival.

💡Traditional Practices

Traditional practices are the customs, rituals, and skills passed down through generations within a community. In the video, the Remontado people's traditional practices, such as using yuro (a traditional medicine) and hunting wild pigs, are at risk of being lost if the Kaliwa Dam project proceeds. These practices are integral to the community's cultural identity and their connection to the land, and their loss would represent a significant cultural erosion.

Highlights

Importance of the river for the Indigenous Peoples' survival and culture.

Rejection of the Kaliwa Dam due to concerns over cultural erasure.

Introduction of Amy Astoveza, a Remontado with a unique cultural background.

Description of traditional farming practices like pasik and collective farming.

Diversity of fish species in the river and their significance in the diet.

The Agos River as a marketplace and a source of sustenance.

Sharing of resources with the community as a cultural practice.

Traditional practices during child delivery due to lack of access to hospitals.

Community efforts to maintain water sources and cleanliness.

Concerns over the dam project's impact on water sources and community life.

Impact of the dam on downstream communities and the potential loss of life.

Fear of losing access to water and the threat to traditional lifestyles.

Cultural erosion and the loss of traditional practices due to land control by companies.

Importance of burial grounds to the Indigenous Peoples and the threat posed by the dam.

Concerns over the loss of livelihood due to the dam project and military presence.

Accusations and fear of being labeled as NPA members leading to community silence.

Desire to live freely within Sierra Madre without disturbances.

Transcripts

Since I was born, I was accustomed to living freely in the mountains of Sierra Madre.

The river is really important. If the river dries out, what will we drink?

We firmly reject the Kaliwa Dam as our traditions and cultures as Indigenous Peoples will disappear.

I am Amy Astoveza, I am almost 50 years old.

I am a Remontado - half Tagalog, half Indigenous.

We plant crops like cassava, sweet potatoes, and bananas.

During pasik (community rice planting),

we ask community members to join the collective planting by throwing seeds (after slash and burn).

We practice collective farming here.

We are able to get different kinds of fish from this river.

There’s carp, large tilapia, bakyu, mamuntok, balitag, shrimp, and many others.

In times where we have nothing to eat with rice, we eat the fish.

We don’t sell it anymore.

The Agos (Kaliwa) River is our marketplace.

When the water in the river rises,

my husband and I are sometimes able to catch 2 or 3 kilos of fish.

This October, when my family went fishing,

the children said they caught about 30 fish.

Some were this big.

We’re happy when we’re able to catch a lot.

We share these with our neighbors.

It is not a tradition of Indigenous Peoples to be selfish.

We want to share what we have with our community,

including the non-Indigenous Peoples.

This what we learned from our mothers.

This is what they put.

This traditional practice is common during child delivery.

We know that we are not allowed to perform child delivery without a license

but due to privation, we cannot afford to go to a hospital.

We pray to the Lord for a safe delivery.

Thankfully, the babies have grown-up well.

Even if I am scared, I try to remain strong.

Our elders thought of this to provide water for each of the households.

When there is little water in the stream

we remove the weeds to maintain the water’s cleanliness and potability.

We really cleanse it.

This is the stream where we get our drinking water,

for drinking and also for washing.

We get everything we need from here.

We don’t want a big dam.

Our water sources will disappear.

We are not the only one to be affected.

The other community downstream, Sitio Mabulas, will also be submerged as well.

What will happen to our friends and families at the low-lying areas?

They will die because they would be submerged.

If the dam project continues, when it is built,

we might not be able to collect water from the river as freely as before.

There might come a time that they will prohibit us from getting water at all.

That is what I don’t want to happen to us,

that now we are free to get water and then later we lose it.

This will really be difficult for those of us living here.

We are afraid that our traditions and culture as Indigenous Peoples will disappear and eventually die.

We will have limited access to our Agos River.

The mountains will disappear with its Indigenous Peoples,

given that this is where Indigenous Peoples thrive.

Our ways of living will also be affected.

We used to be able to go where we wish and do our livelihood...

but now we cannot because the company controls the lands now.

Our elders cannot teach our traditional practices anymore like how to use yuro or how to hunt wild pigs.

Our children and grandchildren won’t experience any of these anymore.

This will just live in their memories.

We also need to protect our burial grounds...

because this is where our ancestors are buried,

who we remember until now.

The Indigenous communities and their burial grounds are usually located by the river banks...

so that when we go fishing, we are able to visit our ancestors.

We don’t want the dam to push through...

because it will dig up our ancestors who are already buried there...

or even submerge them under water.

We don’t want that to happen.

We heard that they will be giving out housing units.

But if they build that,

we won’t have a place for planting.

That is our only livelihood - planting.

What will happen to our livelihood? It will be gone.

If we want to go out, we are not able to because of the presence of soldiers.

If you pass through [a checkpoint] without an ID, even if you live here, they will not allow you to pass.

They are really strict about it.

The residents of Sitio Baykuran are accused of being members of the New People’s Army (NPA).

We told them not to accuse those of us who attended [the meeting].

When we reject the [Kaliwa] dam, we are labelled us leftists.

So the community members opt to keep quiet to avoid such accusations.

Even if we say no, they would translate it to a “yes.”

They make it look like we agreed but we really do not want this

We are against [the dam] but we’re afraid that we might get arrested

They did not get our permission for this road construction - that’s what I observed.

When we found out that they will start bulldozing,

I was disheartened.

But what can we do now that they are already here and started bulldozing.

But even so, we still do not agree to this.

I can see that Sierra Madre could really disappear if this dam project continues.

We want to continue to see the vastness of Sierra Madre...

and to continue to live and work freely within it, free from disturbances.

And not as prisoners.